Hope for improving teachers' income
Although they are dedicated to teaching and caring for students every day, many teachers still receive an income that is not completely commensurate with their passion and efforts.
The latest information from the Ministry of Education and Training shows that 88% of teachers are ranking salaries lower than civil servants in other sectors and fields. In particular, 100% of preschool teachers are currently ranked with the lowest salary in the administrative career salary scale system.
Therefore, the proposal to add salary and allowance coefficients for teachers from 2026 is expected to partly solve this situation, bringing more stability to the teaching staff nationwide.
For Ms. Duong Thi Bich Ngoc - Music teacher, Head of the Team of Chieng Luong Primary School (Phieng Pan commune, Son La) - that expectation is even greater after nearly 20 years of living in the highlands. After graduating in Pedagogy, she chose to return to her hometown to contribute, despite difficulties and hardships.
She said that at the school in the border commune, where teachers not only teach but also take care of every meal and sleep for students. "Many days when my children are sick, I stay to take care of them, get their hair cut, and shampoo them. I just hope the children can study with peace of mind" - she shared.
Ms. Ngoc's income has increased compared to before thanks to regional allowances - but according to her, "prices have increased every day, so her current income is still very limited". She hopes that the new salary policy from 2026 will bring more substantial increases, helping teachers in mountainous areas reduce economic pressure to focus on teaching and caring for students.
For Ms. Ngoc, the new salary policy is like a word of encouragement, adding confidence for teachers to feel secure in their profession.
Also working in a border commune, Ms. Sung Thi Tang - a teacher at Pa My Kindergarten (Nam Ke commune, Dien Bien) - also expressed her hope that salary and benefits policies will be implemented soon and on schedule.
According to Ms. Tang, the lives of many preschool teachers in general, especially teachers in mountainous areas in particular, still face many difficulties, especially young people who have just entered the profession with low starting salaries. "If the policy is applied soon, we will have more motivation to stick together and contribute to students" - she said.
Waiting for the salary policy to be implemented soon
Ms. Pham Thu Trang - a teacher at a primary school in Dong Anh commune (Hanoi) - is also particularly interested in the proposal to apply a special salary coefficient for teachers. According to her, this policy not only helps improve income but also creates spiritual motivation, especially important for young teachers new to the profession.
"Receiving a special salary coefficient will help young teachers reduce financial worries, thereby spending more time and enthusiasm improving their expertise, innovating teaching methods, giving students more effective and exciting hours of study" - Ms. Trang shared.
According to Ms. Trang, this is not only a solution to improve income but also a spiritual motivation to help teachers innovate teaching methods.
She emphasized that the policy also needs to be implemented appropriately and transparently.
"The most important thing is that the policy is implemented soon, ensuring transparency and fairness between regions, so that all teachers from urban areas to remote areas can enjoy worthy benefits. At that time, the new teaching staff will be truly assured of their work, long-term attachment and wholeheartedly devoted to the cause of education" - Ms. Trang expressed.
